Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted in South Africa
South Africa: Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted was 1 LPIA in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
1 LPIA
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
3rd
of 56 countries
All-time high
1.01 LPIA
in 2016
All-time low
0.94 LPIA
in 1996
Years of data
11
1996–2024
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted in South Africa, 1996–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in LPIA.
Analysis
In 2024, youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted in South Africa stood at 1 LPIA.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted in South Africa peaked at 1.01 LPIA in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.94 LPIA, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 3rd of 56 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted in South Africa, year by year
| Year | LPIA | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.94 LPIA | — |
| 2009 | 1 LPIA | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 0.99 LPIA | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 1 LPIA | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 0.99 LPIA | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 0.99 LPIA | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1 LPIA | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 1.01 LPIA | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 0.99 LPIA | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 0.99 LPIA | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 1 LPIA | +1.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1 LPIA is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1 LPIA, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1 LPIA is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.73 LPIA, 1.4× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.94 LPIA | 0.94 LPIA | 0.94 LPIA | 1 |
| 2000s | 1 LPIA | 1 LPIA | 1 LPIA | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.9957 LPIA | 0.99 LPIA | 1.01 LPIA | 7 |
| 2020s | 0.995 LPIA | 0.99 LPIA | 1 LPIA | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Malaysia 1.01 LPIA compare
- 1 Uruguay 1.01 LPIA compare
- 3 Armenia 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Azerbaijan 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Bangladesh 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Brazil 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Chile 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Ecuador 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Spain 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Indonesia 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Sri Lanka 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Mongolia 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Oman 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Philippines 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Palestine, State of 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Serbia 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Thailand 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Tonga 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Türkiye 1 LPIA compare
- 3 Uzbekistan 1 LPIA compare
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted in South Africa?
- Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted in South Africa was 1 LPIA in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.01 LPIA in 2016.
- What is the lowest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.94 LPIA in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 56 countries with data for 2024.
- Is youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, female, adjusted location parity index (LPIA). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release